time makes you bolder

bren was a simply guy , most of his expensive high end shit came from his mom or sister. he liked lowkey stuff , liked being lowkey despite his desires to go out and party sometimes. but only when he was in the mood , only when he had had too much shit in his system. he never really liked the idea of a roommate , unless it was a boyfriend or girlfriend but cass was different. he’d do anything to make sure she was safe and protected , thought she deserved more than a shitty ass van and showering at the gym. which is why he pressed her so hard to move in with him and finally it worked. he had a face mask on , wine in his hand and remote in the other as he mindlessly flipped through the channels , noodle laying at his head and the other two closer to cass. “ anything you want. i don’t care. you’re the one that’s vegan , i can eat anything. ” he teases. “ mm. i might have soon , but i’m not trying to move right now even for that. ” he takes a pause to sip his drink before answering her. “ it was good. yours ?? ”

“right?” she grinned, taking another sip of her drink. “don’t tempt me, babygirl.” tara scrunched her face together as she thought about it, glancing over at the bathroom. “fine. i’m always down for a good time. lead the way, then.” 

it was funny, really, the sense of deja vu that followed the duo in situations like this. after all, it was a strikingly similar setting, on a haze-filled night years prior, that they first met over a line of powdered substance. “ i fucking knew you had  been in there, ” indigo laughed, as if she had a sixth sense of knowing where cassidy had been. “ us? hold back? never, — … but, tonight is extra special. i don’t wanna remember a thing. ”

Slater really wasn’t sure what he was doing at that stage, the night had been a mess and the little game between cass and himself was teetering on dangerous territory. he was familiar with the playful banter that surrounded them, it seemed like lately that friendship was crossing boundaries. wasn’t usually one to say no, except he knew they could ruin something good he had going. if they gave themselves up to their desires he wasn’t sure what it would end up meaning. ❝ maybe that’s because we know each other cassidy king. more than most. ❞ eyes dropping down to meet where she had caught his attention, each move calculated and purposeful it elicited a grin from slaters lips. ❝ i think it’s not just that is it though. it’s comfort, safety… being understood. that’s what you really feel, and i think thats what you really want. think anyone can make you feel excitement cassidy, only a select few do this though.❞  he wouldn’t deny that despite his words there was an electricity and excitement, but he knew how easily that came for them even if it shouldn’t. ❝ so take your pick of what you want..? or admit it at least and you tell me.❞ could tell that there was more than a few drinks between them and while that usually wouldn’t bother him, tonight it may have. wasn’t sure how much of this was her and how much was liquor. ❝ because i think you want me to take you home tonight and i think if you asked i would.❞ the words were simple, what they really meant underneath was yet to be found by the both of them. ❝ i’m waiting.. because if you’re saying you don’t then we both know thats not the truth. tell me since when do you let anyone else like this in, say the things we can say to each other, show things to.. apart from….❞ didn’t say his name, knew right now maybe he was a sore subject. instead focused on the way his hands grazed over hers, instinctively rubbing a pattern into her skin. he shrugged knowing if he continued on there would be a chance the blonde might not take it well, the way he was calling her out like he knew, like he knew her. ❝ your using this as a facade cassidy. you’re scared of being hurt because you always have been, it’s easier this way to make it all about.. one thing when you really want so much more than that. that way you can just brush it off if you don’t get what you’re too scared to let yourself want. just wanna know if your hiding with me too, cause you don’t need to. i … would get it. you know i would and im just wondering if that’s what has you on edge, that we might be more similar than we let on and it’s terrifying i can read that.❞ her hands fell into his without thought, his fingers wrapping around them just like that as he helped her down, pulling her closer to him. a smile turning up as she propositioned him ❝ wanna head down to the beach…? think we can walk from here back to campus..❞

Taking a gulp of her drink, her eyes narrowed as he spoke. Something about his words irked her, didn’t sit right with her. Maybe it was that he’d used her full name, making her feel like a child being scolded, or maybe it was because he was right, and every word he spoke was true. She hated it. Hated that she had allowed him to know her. The way words tumbled out of her on nights like these, things she would never say sober. But he always remembered. And he told her things too, she knew things. Still, the way he said it made her feel uneasy, all of her walls coming back up. “You don’t know me that well at all. No more than most.” But he did, and he proved it as he continued to speak. Eyes locked on him, she shook her head. This was what she hated about their little game, the way she could build her walls up and he found a way to knock them down so quickly. The urge to run struck her, but she never had with Slater, and she wasn’t about to start now. She felt the words leave her mouth before she could consider what she was saying. “That’s what makes it exciting, S. That I feel safe with you...understood. Seen.” She frowned, not liking the way the conversation was headed. “You’re right. That is what I want.” She closed herself off, throwing back the rest of her drink, slamming her cup down on the table. “And what if I want all of it, S? Will you give it to me?”She felt the power shift back to her, relaxing a little more as she knew the territory she was in. A brow raised at his next words, a smirk etched on her lips. “Are you asking me if I want you to take me home tonight? Because the answer is yes. But I think you knew that. I’ll ask if that’s what you want. Just say the word.” She tensed, shaking her head once more as she spoke, anger rising in her at the implication. “Don’t.” She cast him a warning glance, that familiar mix of feelings settling in her stomach whenever she thought of her best friend. Her brilliant, beautiful best friend. “Don’t bring him up with me when all I want to do tonight is forget him.” Looking between them, at the way his hand touched hers. Soft. Comforting. Safe. Yet still, that same excitement, electricity between them at his touch. She bit at her lip gently, realising entirely too quickly how well Slater had her pegged, how well he really did know her. Truthfully, she didn’t know. She had no clue when she had started to let him in like this, no clue why. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t fucking psychoanalyse me, Slater. What do you want me to tell you, slater? that i want to be loved? someone to think i'm beautiful? that i pretend i'm fine on my own when all i really want is someone to force their way in? make me let them in so its not so fucking lonely?" Fuck. Here she went again, letting all the feelings she kept inside spill out completely in front of him. She knew she would never do this sober, but the cocktail of drugs and alcohol in her system and the anger rising in her let it all overflow.  "do you want me to tell you that i'm frightened of how you make me feel? because i've only felt it once before, and it hurts? so i'd rather shut you out than ever even think about letting you in? because i don't think i need to tell you. i think you know. I think you know how safe I feel with you and you know how much it terrifies me.” She felt her eyes water, pouring herself a shot and throwing it back. "Maybe we are more similar than we let on. We'd both rather run, ruin things, hurt them before they can hurt us, rather than let ourselves feel something...rather than let ourselves have a good thing we don't think we deserve." Grateful for the opportunity to change the subject, talk about anything else, she grinned, closing her walls back up, a wicked glint in her eyes. “I’d love to go to the beach.”

♡ —“of course, you’re the love of my life,” how well they had instantly clicked was amazing. then again their personalities complimented the others so well. it was kind of scary. “let’s see. how much time do have on your hands?” she chuckled. as she waved the frat boys off. she had no interest. “frat boys aren’t my type,” boy was her type what was she talking about? maybe a change of heart recently was the reason. sofia swiftly rolled her eyes with a laugh. “i have to agree. she is absolutely badass. also that red hair just omfg,” she mockingly fanned herself. “so do you cass,” she muttered knowing the other probably wouldn’t remember it. her eyebrow raised. “don’t die please,”

“And you are the love of mine, baby girl.” she chuckled, swatting the other girl playfully on the arm. “That is rude! I could be completely self-sufficient without you, Sofia...I just wouldn’t have nearly as much fun doing it.”She playfully poked out her tongue, laughing loudly. “We all know what your type is Sof, it’s me.” She winked, shaking her head. “Damn, knew I should have gone for the red instead of the pink.” She nodded, rolling her eyes. “I’m not gonna die, Sof. I’ve done this tons.”